The Contemporary Dayton presents: Emerging:The Biennial Art & Design Student Show

January 7, 2019, Dayton: Emerging: The Biennial Art and Design Student Exhibition showcases the promise of tomorrow’s creative innovators and doers. Assembled by Curator-in-Residence Jeffrey Cortland Jones, this exhibition brings together 30 of the most talented art and design students from Antioch College, Central State University The Modern College of Design, Sinclair Community College, the University of Dayton, Wittenberg University, and Wright State University.

The Opening Reception is free and open to all and will take place Friday, January 11, from 6-8 p.m. The exhibition is on view through Saturday, February 9, 2019.

Running the gamut from lush representational landscapes, to ceramics masquerading as paintings, to politically charged documentary photography, to material-based non-representational paper explorations, to the inward struggles with perceptions of body image, to video of the simple challenges of everyday life, this exhibition celebrates the diversity of thought in 21st century art making.

As part of DVAC’s recently announced evolution to The Contemporary Dayton (The Co), Emerging reflects the new direction of the 11-year, sometimes annual, sometimes biennial “Cline Show”, named in memory of beloved, former DVAC office manager Barb Cline. Emerging: The Biennial Art & Design Student Show is curated by the organization’s first Curator-in-Residence, Jeffrey Cortland Jones and to continue to honor the spirit of Cline, Jones will present The Barbara C. Cline Memorial Award, a cash award for best in show.

In addition, as a testament to the show’s rich history of notable participants, and to honor Cline’s memory, The Co is inviting all Cline show participants and faculty nominators from the past 11 years for a reunion gathering to take place the same evening as a Curator & Artists Talk with the Emerging artists. The Cline Show Artist Reunion & 2019 Curator & Artists Talk will take place Thursday, January 24, from 6-8 p.m. The event is free & open to all and will include refreshments.

This year’s artists are:

Antioch College

Tyler Clapsaddle
Daniel James Cox
Lu Rayfield

Central State University

Joslynn Jacobs
Darrington Gladman
Kristi Sanders
Ravon Tillman

The Modern College of Design

Emma Jones
Shelby Perkins
Rachael Shurte
William Smith

Sinclair Community College

Daniela González Espitia
Jenna Markins
Emily Wick
Rebekah Orlick

The University of Dayton

Emily Bartolone
Claire Bowman
Annie Denten
Maria Gordon
Dani Lioce
Kathryn Paull
Maura Parker

Wittenberg University

Mikayla Garberich
Kimberly Mugford
Grace Worley

Wright State University

Cody Matson
Saoirse
Frances Smith
Andrew Spradlin

About the Curator

Jeffrey Cortland Jones is a painter, curator, and professor who lives in Southwestern Ohio. His work is represented by Angela Meleca Gallery, Columbus, OH; Galleri Urbane, Dallas + Marfa, TX; Gallery IMA, Seattle, WA; Kathryn Markel Fine Arts, New York, NY; TW Fine Art, Brisbane, Australia; and @Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland. He has had solo exhibitions regionally and internationally including Chicago, New York, Australia, Germany, Amsterdam and the United Kingdom.

Jeffrey’s work has been widely exhibited and has been written about in the Wall Street Journal, Art LTDmagazine, Contemporary Art Review LA, WideWalls, Modern Luxury Interiors Chicago, Arts + Culture, showcased twice in New American Paintings, and featured in over 150 exhibitions since 2010.

He received a Masters of Fine Art from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning and a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, both in Painting and Drawing. Jeffrey is a Professor of Art at the University of Dayton where he heads the Painting program. In addition to making work, Jeffrey also actively curates exhibitions at a number of galleries and alternative spaces, including DIVISIBLE, a project space he co-founded in 2014.

Presenting Sponsor: The University of Dayton
Exhibition Partner: Amelia Hounshell & Brian Albrecht
Education & Public Program Sponsor: Dr. Robert L. Brandt, Jr.

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ABOUT THE CONTEMPORARY DAYTON

Mission: To provide art for the community and a community for artists.

Overview: The Contemporary Dayton (The Co) is the region’s contemporary art center. Established in 1991 as Dayton Visual Arts Center (DVAC), a 501c3, The Co produces and presents original exhibitions and programs, art events, community partnerships, and artist opportunities. Exhibitions and education programs feature artists living and working today, both nationally and in Ohio, with an emphasis on those whose work focuses on issues of social justice. In addition to its three galleries—open to all and always free—its retail store, the CoSHOP, provides income for Ohio artists and extends The Co’s accessibility to art, from visitor engagement to educational outreach through store products, programs, and experiences.

The Co is proud to support the creation of connections among the arts, community building, civic engagement, community planning, and use of public space, and makes an annual economic impact of 3.4 million to the region. Recently raising 1 million during the Pandemic to expand and move into its new home in downtown’s historic Dayton Arcade, The Co is led by Executive Director Eva Buttacavoli, a 30-year art museum administrator, curator, and educator, whose previous roles were at The Contemporary Austin, TX and The Perez Art Museum Miami, FL; and Curator Michael Goodson, who previously served as Curator at the Wexner Center for the Arts, Beeler Gallery, Columbus College of Art and Design, OH; and as Director at James Cohan Gallery, NY.

The Contemporary Dayton receives operating support from Culture Works, Montgomery County Arts & Cultural District, Ohio Arts Council, the Virginia W. Kettering Foundation, and Members.